Ashoka (Mast Tree): Where Monoon longifolium Grows in India and How to Plant It
Monoon longifolium
The tall, evergreen "Ashoka" or Mast tree seen along Indian roads. Where it grows in India, how to plant and care for it, what it offers birds and butterflies, and why it is not the true Ashoka (Saraca asoca).
Varieties
Known varieties and forms of this tree in India, how they differ and where they grow.
Natural form (2)
Weeping column form ('Pendula')Height: 15-20 m maximumTree shape: Narrow column with drooping branchletsGrown in: North plains (Indo-Gangetic)
Sold as Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula or 'Temple Pillar'; Kew's WCVP lists var. pendula as a synonym of Monoon longifolium, so it is a form, not a separate botanical variety. In Delhi it is mostly planted along fences and compound walls.
- Tree shape
- Narrow column with drooping branchlets
- Height
- 15-20 m maximum
- Best for
- Avenues, screens, fences and formal gardens
Sources: National Parks Board, Singapore, eFlora of India, GBIF / Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (WCVP), Flowers of India
Spreading formHeight: Up to 20 mTree shape: Branched, slender spreading branches
Here slender branches spread from the straight trunk and form a compact, symmetrical crown. An eFlora of India expert calls this the typical variety (var. longifolia) and notes it is not commonly planted in gardens.
- Tree shape
- Branched, slender spreading branches
- Height
- Up to 20 m
Sources: eFlora of India, Flowers of India
Compare all varieties
| Variety | Tree shape | Height | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeping column form ('Pendula') | Narrow column with drooping branchlets | 15-20 m maximum | Avenues, screens, fences and formal gardens |
| Spreading form | Branched, slender spreading branches | Up to 20 m | — |
Sources: Flora & Fauna Web: Monoon longifolium 'Pendula' – National Parks Board, Singapore; eFlora of India: Polyalthia longifolia (Monoon longifolium) – eFlora of India; GBIF species search, Kew WCVP checklist: Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula Benthall is a SYNONYM of Monoon longifolium – GBIF / Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (WCVP); Flowers of India: Ashok (Monoon longifolium) – Flowers of India
This article was prepared with AI assistance. Please check important details against the sources shown in each section.
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